Page 193 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

D e g r e e a d v e r b s : v e r y , t o o , e x t r e m e l y , q u i t e , e t c .
extremely,
quite,
too,
adverbs:
very,
etc.
Degree
verbs,
used
adverbs can
before
give information about
or other
adverbs to
adjectives,
be
Degree
Degree adverbs can be used before adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to give information about
degree
extent
of something.
or
Compare:
the
the extent or degree of something. Compare:
They're extremely happy.
and
• ¢ They're happy. and • ¢ They're extremely happy.
They're happy.
I really hate travelling by plane.
I hate travelling by plane.
• ¢ [hate travelling by plane. and • ¢ I really hate travelling by plane.
and
He's almost always late.
and
• ¢ He's always late. and • * He's almost always late.
He's always late.
slightly, too, totally,
rather,
fairly,
very (much).
quite,
Other degree adverbs include completely, fairly, quite, rather, slightly, too, totally, very (much).
Other degree adverbs include completely,
Very and too
Very and too
or
another adverb we
and too
adjective
use
very when we mean 'to
degree',
a
high
Before an adjective or another adverb we use very when we mean 'to a high degree’, and too
Before an
or 'more than is wanted
Compare:
or needed'.
when we mean 'more than enough' or 'more than is wanted or needed'. Compare:
when we mean 'more than enough'
The weather was very hot in Majorca.
{not ...too hot...)
Perfect for swimming,
• ¢ The weather was very hot in Majorca. Perfect for swimming. (of ...too hot...) and
and
(not
...very hot...)
find somewhere cooler,
• * It's too hot to stay in this room - let's find somewhere cooler. (not ...very hot...)
It's too hot to stay in this room - let's
spoken English, particularly
in negative
in
sentences,
use
we can sometimes
informal
However,
However, in informal spoken English, particularly in negative sentences, we can sometimes use
mean
'very':
roughly the
as
same
to
'too'
'too' to mean roughly the same as 'very':
wins.
• ¢ I'm not too/very bothered about who wins.
I'm not too/very bothered about who
It's not too/very warm today, is it?
• ¢ It's not too/very warm today, is it?
Very and very much
Very and very much
some verbs
before
use
before
use very much
verbs,
but we can
very
how
to emphasise
We don't use very before verbs, but we can use very much before some verbs to emphasise how
We don't
feel
about things:
we
we feel about things:
(not ...very agree...)
I very much agree with the decision,
• ¢ I very much agree with the decision. (not ...very agree...)
We
much
stay with us.
(not
enjoyed having you
(very)
...very enjoyed...)
• ¢ We (very) much enjoyed having you stay with us. (not ...very enjoyed...)
like, want;
and also
enjoy,
fear, hope,
admire,
appreciate,
^Verbs like this include agree, doubt, fear, hope, like, want; and also admire, appreciate, enjoy,
Verbs like this include agree, doubt,
We can
much
before
use
last
four verbs.
(but not very)
very much or
regret.
the
*and
*and regret. We can use very much or much (but not very) before the last four verbs.
before participle
(see Unit
85):
use
(very)
much
adjectives
very but not
We can use very but not (very) much before participle adjectives (see Unit 85):
We can
• ¢ She was very disturbed to hear the news. (not She was very much disturbed...)
She was very disturbed to hear the news, (not She was very much disturbed...)
very disappointing, (not It's very much disappointing.)
It's
• * It's very disappointing. (not It's very much disappointing.)
a past participle which is part of a
passive:
much but not very before
use
(very)
However, we
However, we use (very) much but not very before a past participle which is part of a passive:
The new by-pass was (very) much needed.
• ¢ The new by-pass was (very) much needed.
Extremely, very, etc.; absolutely, completely, etc.
Extremely, very, etc.; absolutely, completely, etc.
We usually use extremely, very, etc. with gradable adjectives and absolutely, completely, etc.
We usually use extremely, very, etc. with gradable adjectives and absolutely, completely, etc.
ungradable adjectives (see Unit 83). Here are more adverbs like these and adjectives which
with
with ungradable adjectives (see Unit 83). Here are more adverbs like these and adjectives which
them:
follow
commonly follow them:
commonly

gradable adjective ungradable adjective
+ + gradable adjective + + ungradable adjective

absolutely...clear, necessary, sure, true
difficult,
hard
absolutely...clear, necessary, sure, true
extremely...effective,
extremely...effective, difficult, hard
@ Gackbe and ungacebe adedives => a particular degree, but not 'very' (= 'fairly'); and to a large degree,
enormous,
terrible
sorry
disappointed,
simply...awful, enormous, terrible
dreadfully...angry,
dreadfully...angry, disappointed, sorry
simply...awful,

enjoyable,
successful
unrecognisable
hugely...entertaining, enjoyable, successful
hugely...entertaining,
utterly...exhausted, unbearable, unrecognisable
utterly...exhausted, unbearable,

Quite
Quite
Quite has two meanings:
Quite has two meanings: to to a particular degree, but not 'very' (= 'fairly'); and to a large degree,
(= 'completely'). Compare:
or 'very much'
or 'very much' (= 'completely'). Compare:
I was quite satisfied with the result.
(=
'fairly') and
• ° I was quite satisfied with the result. (= 'fairly') and
'completely')
No, you're quite wrongl
(=
@
• + No, you're quite wrong! (= 'completely')
quite
is
adjectives
it means
used with ungradable
'completely':
When
When quite is used with ungradable adjectives it means 'completely':
certain}'
'Are you quite
'Ted isn't coming until tomorrow.'
• ¢ ‘Ted isn't coming until tomorrow.’ 'Are you quite certain?’
Gradable and ungradable adjectives =
Position of adverbs;
Postion ofadverbs=>